382 MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
some of them. There might be a deal of trouble from them; he 
alone had one slave, who had 1000 followers at arms, and he 
might trouble them as Cudjo Cooma did, who was a slave of his 
when he revolted, and whose adherents alone were 10,000, inde- 
pendent of runaways, &c. 
In the afternoon the King sent me a ceremonious message, with 
his compliments, saying he would be glad if! attended him in his 
customs, &c. when he should sit in public. I replied that 1 would 
be happy to do so, as it was the King^s wish, except when 
human sacrifices were offered, but then it would be contrary to my 
inclinations, my religion, and my instructions. 
Shortly after I was told the King was in the market-place drink- 
ing palm wine. I went for the first time and took my seat on his 
left. The King made me a present of a pot of wine, as did 
several of his chiefs. When he drank, the whole of the music 
played, while the executioners, holding their swords with their 
right hands, covered their noses with their left, whilst they sung 
his victories and titles. About half a dozen small boys stood be- 
hind his chair, and finished the whole with a fetish hymn. The 
King enquired how many servants I had, and several questions of 
the same kind. After sitting about half an hour the assembly 
broke up, the King rising first, which is the signal to retire. 
Since the mission departed I have not been annoyed by any 
boys calling after me. After seeing Messrs. Bowdich and Tedlie 
through the town, on their going away, as I returned home the 
crowds thanked me as I passed, for staying. I suppose they 
hardly imagined, when it came to the last, that I would do so: 
indeed when I returned to my lodgings I found them solitary 
enough; and, in the night time, three men found their way into 
the house; one of my servants awakening, shouted out; I struck 
at one of them with my sword, but missed him : in the morning it 
